Chennai: Accusing that the failure and inaction on the part of authorities led to death of 106 farmers in the state last month, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) ordered notice to Tamil Nadu Chief secretary on Thursday.
The commission has also directed the chief secretary to file a report about the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the state government.
Initiating suo motu proceedings based on media reports, the NHRC stated that the commission considers it as a matter of concern. The commission has observed that “there is a need for sincere implementation of the laws and policies made in the farming sector especially the small farmers”.
“The farmers are required to be brought out of the agrarian crisis, which have been adversely affecting them since long. Failure of a crop not only affects the farmers, financially but also puts them under tremendous stress and mental agony. The entire family collapses when a farmer dies or commits suicide”, the commission stated.
“Despite being the most crucial and significant section of the society, the farmers are feeling neglected by the policy makers. The issue was not only relating to their right to life and dignity of the victims, but also indicative of failure and inaction by the state agencies”, the commission accused.
The water bodies getting dry and failure of monsoon affected the farmers. Groundwater table also shrunk in several places. The poor farmers, who depend upon their crops, are the most vulnerable section of the society and they always become victims of various vagaries.
As per media reports published on Januay 3, 2017, 83 farmers died of heart attack and many committed suicide. As per newspaper report on January 5, that the number of farmers deaths reached 106. As per reports, the most affected districts are Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Viluppuram, Pudukottai, Ariyalur, Cuddalore and Thanjavur.
